I have a friend who left his country & family in Africa to live here in Canada. Often, he writes about how he'd wish people would live in Peace back home with one each other, and how war keeps killing his people & nation.

The other day, I was teared when he wrote about his sister who just died at the best hospital in the country, while she was giving birth to her child. The child survived, but the lack of equipment and doctors sealed her faith.

It's hard to imagine that these things still exist in 2012, when we live here.

Then, tonight, I found this picture browsing a Website promoting the beautiful African culture:

First, I was shocked, and perturbed. Such a caring mom carrying a rifle with her two other children on her side?

I don't know the story behind that picture. It clearly is contradictive to what's understandable. Then, trying to imagine what it would be to constantly have to protect ourselves against the invader. Constantly losing friends, and family members under the fire. Then be 6,000km away when one leaves this world and not being able to say a last goodbye.

Must be really terrible. For us, this is far away, and sometimes the last of our concerns. For others, it's their everyday life. What a world do we live in.

I agree. There are shadows on each side of the children on the mother.

But regarding the promotion of gun culture inside the family photo, it's disturbing. I feel similar toward propaganda aimed at children on television and video game ads that promote and glamorize joining an armed group to go kill people they don't know, just because the government tells them to. More disturbing, is the fact that the government coerces us to pay for those ads along with the weapons.

I agree. There are shadows on each side of the children on the mother.

But regarding the promotion of gun culture inside the family photo, it's disturbing. I feel similar toward propaganda aimed at children on television and video game ads that promote and glamorize joining an armed group to go kill people they don't know, just because the government tells them to. More disturbing, is the fact that the government coerces us to pay for those ads along with the weapons.

It might be a studio photo, but it's a real one anyways... Someone took that picture as a family portrait! Disturbing..

As North Americans living in our sheltered world of consumerism and hollywood, it is hard to fathom a picture such as the OP, but for many this is their reality. Regardless of whether it is "staged" or not, I am sure there are pregnant women out there willing to kill and to die for their children.

Here is a link to a website called "Young Blood, Children of War" that discusses things our children will hopefully never experience.

there is a difference between a staged photo in some american studio to make a cool picture and true kids with guns ready to kill like adults.there is also a big difference in the mentality of the people in the photo's.one group is fighting to survive the other is surviving well enough they have money to make gag photo's.big difference.

The OP's photo is four pics in one.That "mother" is not a part of either child, and they are unrelated as well.I'm speaking about the photo, not their genes.The background is another pic entirely.Looking close at the lighting of each subject, along with the placement of shadows shows that it's a bad photoshop collage.